Coin changing machine



April 27, 1954 5 Y com CHANGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1951 Sheet 1 INVENR.

ATTORNEY] S. MAY

COIN CHANGING MACHINE April 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1951 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES T GFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to change making machines and more particularly to such a machine in which the deposited coin constitutes the interlocking medium between the change ejecting elements and the actuating means therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a change making machine containing one or more vertically disposed and horizontally spaced change magazines from which a preselected number of coins is ejected by a slide whose width and thickness determines the number of coins ejected and the number of magazines contributing the coins in each change making operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the type set forth, an ejector slide actuating panel, hinged along its upper edge and equipped with a. coin chute through which operating coins of different denominations are directed to their respective positions to inte lock the panel with a particular ejector slide. Moreover, the invention includes means exteriorly actuated for moving the panel against the resistance of a spring, first: to move the operating coin to a position for its release into a receptacle while retracting an ejector slide from under a column or columns of change coins and second: to release the hinged panel to the action of said spring to propel the slide against the lowest coins of the column or columns to eject the same. i.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring biased, non-return rack bar which is engaged by the operating coin, the latter serving to interlock the hinged panel with a change ejector slide which is selected according to the denomination of the operating coin deposited into the machine, the rack bar serving to prevent return of the hinged panel or the ejector slide to initial position until the ejecting cycle has been completed.

ther objects will appear as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a change making machine constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a View in vertical section.

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section, taken on line 13- 3 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an exploded View in perspective, showing the parts making up the change ejecting assembly.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein numeral It denotes generally the inner case of the change making machine which is adapted to be enclosed in a housing, not shown, of suitable design. Secured by a bracket H or other suitable means to the upper portion of the case 50 is a slug rejector I 2 of conventional manufacture, but which is designed to pass coins of two denominations, these in the present case being dimes and quarters. These coins are deposited into a small chute It, to be received by the slug rejector I2 and released thereby at its bottom into the machine to perform the function to be presently explained.

A panel 15 is suspended for swinging displacement by pins E5 in each side wall of the case I0 and which are received in apertures in the right angularly turned ends of straps l6, secured to the upper corners of the panel M. The hinged upper end of the panel I4 is in close adjacency to the coin discharge opening of the slug rejector l2, hence in any position of the panel, the coins passing through the slug rejector will drop into the chute ll on the panel I l defined by a plate It, secured to the panel by screws l9 and spaced therefrom by shims 29.

When the panel I4 is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 3, the lower end of the chute ll of panel 1 3 is in register with a slot 2| in an ejector slide 22 (Fig. 6) whose side edges are secured for sliding movement under flanges 23 of vertical plates 24, one being disposed on each side wall of the case 50 and which are interposed between the side walls and an inverted U- shaped plate 25 whose upper portion 26 constitutes a. support for the slide 22 and its companion slide 21. I

The slide 22 is the dime slide and is slidably superimposed on the quarter slide 21. The slot 2! in the dime slide 22 is substantially T-shaped as is likewise the slot 28 of the quarter slide 21 whose thickness is considerably greater than that of the dime slide. The slots 2| and 28 are generally in register while both slides are disposed under the change magazine 29 but the open tail portion 39 of slot 2| is less in width than the open tail portion 3! of slot 28 in the companion quarter slide 27. The purpose of this will be presently explained.

The portion 26 of the inverted U-shaped plate 25 is provided with an elongated slot 32, terminating in an opening 33 at the rear of the machine which is of greater width than the elongated portion of the slot 32. The slides 22 and 3 2'! are adapted to be moved longitudinally of their support 26, either individually or simultaneously and their slots 2i and 23 are always in register with the elongated portion of the slot 32 in the support 28.

To actuate the panel i i, an operating handle or lever 35 is secured as by screws 36 (Fig. 1) to the front face of the panel and is adapted to extend through a slot in the front of the outer case (not shown) of the machine. A coil spring 3! is attached at its lower end to the lever 35 at 38 and at its upper end to the top 35 of a bracket 40, supported on the case ill. The spring ill serves to return the operating lever 35 and the hinged panel E4 to their initial positions after having been displaced in making change for a deposited com.

To operate the machine, a dime M or a quarter 42 is deposited into the chute :3, which passes through the slug rejector l2 and falls into the chute ll formed on the rear face of the hinged panel it. The coin travels down the chute H and comes to rest in the aligned slots 2i and 28 of slides 22 and 2i respectively, the coin being supported on rails 43, one being disposed on each side of the slot 32 in the slide support 26, as shown in Figures a and 5.

The diameter or a dime, deposited as described, is greater than the width of the open portion 3d of the slot 2! of the dime slide 22 but is less ban the width of the open portion 35 of the slot 28 of the quarter slide 2'1. Thus, when the operating handle 35 is depressed to actuate the panel i l, the dime will effect interlocking relationship between the panel and the dime slide 22 to cause the latter to move rearwardly. Since the diameter of the dime is not great enough to engage in the open portion 3! of slot 23 of the quarter slide 2i, this slide will remain stationary while the dime slide moves to a position to release the dime into the enlarged portion 33 of slot 32 in the support 26 through which the dime falls into a receptacle, not shown, below the slide assembly.

When a quarter is deposited in the chute M, it also comes to rest on the supporting rails 43 in both slots 2i and 28 of the slides 22 and 2'1. The diameter of the quarter however is such that it will engage behind both of the open portions 36 and 3! of these slots. Therefore, when the panel 54 is displaced rearwardly, both the slides 22 and 2? will be moved rearwardly until the quarter is dropped through the enlarged portion 33 of slot 32 in the support 26. In the case of either the dime or quarter, release of the coin through the slot 33 will free the panel M to the action of the spring 3'! which will return the panel to its initial position and with it the slides 22 and 2? by virtue of aligned tongues i l (Fig. on the lower ends of the panel M and plate it, which tongues are of sufficient length to engage the rear end of the dime side 22 to return the same to its initial position and, through the medium of a downwardly turned lip 45 on the rear edge of the slide 22, which engages the rear edge of the quarter slide 2'], both slides are returned to their initial positions following the operation of delivering change for a quarter.

The thickness of the slides 22 and 2's determines the number of coins ejected from the change magazine 29. When the change maker is used in conjunction with a vending machine delivering an article in the value of five cents, the thickness of the dime chute is equal to that or a five cent piece so that with the article vended a five cent piece will be ejected from the magazine 4 29 following the deposit of a dime. A quarter deposited will yield an article and change in the amount of twenty cents.

To insure that the change ejecting mechanism will complete each change making cycle, a ratchet is provided below the ejector slides 22 and 21. This ratchet consists of a notched bar it under the bottom plate 26 and extending longitudinally of the slot 32 of the plate midway between the sides of the slot and terminating short of the enlarged opening 33 at the rear end of the slot. The bar 46 is pivoted at a to a bracket il, secured to the underside of the bottom plate 25 by means of a screw 48. A wire spring it, secured at one end also by the screw d8 resists downward displacement of the bar 46 as the coins are moved across the notches thereof.

It is apparent that as the panel it is moved by the operating handle 35, the interlocking coin will be advanced from notch to notch in the ratchet but will not permit the panel It to return until it has been moved the full length of the ratchet bar to allow the interlocking coin to drop through the enlarged opening 33 at the end of the slot 32 and thus release the panel it.

To return a deposited coin to the patron in the event the coin magazine 29 is allowed to become depleted, a feeler rod lid is provided whose upper end is pivotally engaged. with the outer end of a finger 5!, which is in turn pivoted at 52 to a bracket 53 so mounted on the slug rejector it that when the feeler rod to is moved in the manner to be explained, the inner end of the finger 55 will move into the path of coins passing downwardly through the slug rejector and thus divert the coins into a rejection chute with which the conventional rejectors are equipped. The ieeler rod 5t extends downward alongside the change magazine 29 and its lower end enters a slot 5 1 in the side of the magazine to bear against the column of coins 55 in the magazine.

When the column of coins 55 extends above the lower end of rod 50, the finger 5i will be in retracted position in relation to the coin passage through the rejector 92. However, when the top of the column of coins 55 recedes below the end of the rod 50, the weight or the rod alone causes the latter to swing inwardly oi the magazine thereby pivoting the finger 5i inwardly and cansing its inner end to enter the coin passage in the rejector to deflect coins as explained.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A change making machine comprising an inner case, a bottom plate for said case having a substantially T-shaped slot therein, a vertically disposed change coin magazine mounted at the front of said case, a pair of change coin ejector slides of different thicknesses superimposed for longitudinal sliding displacement on said bottom plate, each having a coin receiving slot therein and normally supporting a column of coins in said magazine, said coin receiving slots of said slides each having a transverse portion and an open neck portion extending rearwardly from the transverse portion, the open neck of the topmost of said slides being smaller in width than the open neck of the lowermost slide, a downwardly turned lip on the rear end of the topmost of said slides, a panel hinged along its upper edge to said case, a coin chute carried by said panel having a projection on its lower end entering the coin receiving slot of said coin ejector slides through said open necks, said T-shaped slot in the bottom plate of said case being adapted to receive an extended portion of an operating coin in said chute to efiect interlocked relationship between said panel and slides, a coin of a predetermined smaller diameter passing through the open neck of the slot of the lowermost slide but engaging the topmost slide when said panel is moved in one direction, a coin of predetermined larger diameter not being capable of passing through the open neck of the lowermost slide but engaging both of said slides when said panel is moved in said one direction, an operating handle on said panel for urging the same in said one direction to withdraw the slides from under the column of change coins in said magazine and to release the operating coin through the large end of said T-shaped slot, means to preclude reverse travel of said panel during the slide withdrawing operation, and spring means for restoring said panel to its initial position and said slides to their initial positions under said magazine through the medium of said projection and said downwardly turned lip and to effect the ejection of the lowest coins in said magazine by said slides.

2. A change making machine comprising a vertically disposed magazine containing a column of change coins, a supporting plate under said magazine having a slot provided with a large end spaced rearwardly from said magazine, a pair of superimposed coin ejector slides of different thicknesses disposed for independent sliding displacement on said supporting plate, said slides having coin receiving slots in register with the slot of said plate, said coin receiving slots of said slides having a transverse portion and an open neck extending rearwardly from the transverse portion, the open neck of the topmost of said slides being smaller in width than the open neck of the lowermost slide, said slides being adapted to normally support the column of coins in said magazine, a panel hinged for oscillative movement above said slides, means on said panel engagealole with the topmost of said slides for moving said slide in a forwardly direction, means carried by said topmost slide engageable with the lower slide for moving the latter in a forwardly direction, exteriorly operated means connected to said panel for moving the same in a rearwardly direction, an operating coin chute on said panel from which a coin extends into the coin receiving slots of said slides to interlock said slides and panel selectively according to the diameter of said coin whereby to rearwardly displace said slides selectively from under said column of coins when said exteriorly operable means is actuated and to release the coin in said chute through the large end of the slot of said supporting plate, a coin of predetermined small diameter passing through the open neck of the slot of the lowermost slide but engaging the topmost slide when said panel is moved rearwardly, a coin of predetermined long diameter not being capable of passing through the neck of the lowermost slide but engaging both of said slides when said panel is moved rearwardly, and spring means for urging said panel in a forwardly direction to similarly move said selectively displaced slides to eject from the machine the lowest coins in said column in number according to the thickness of the displaced slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 967,347 Downey Aug. 16, 1910 1,849,509 Swan Mar. 15, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 325,662 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1930 

